Abu Syaff enlarges despite offensive

Abu Syaff enlarges despite offensive

MANILA (AP): A Muslim extremist group, which kidnapped scores of foreigners in the southern Philippines last year, slightly grew in numbers despite a massive military offensive, Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said on Thursday.

The Abu Sayyaf's guerrillas increased by about 160 to a total of 1,269 in 2000, and remains a security concern, he said. The rebel group has more than 370 guns, he said.

The Abu Sayyaf shot to international prominence in April when the group crossed the sea border to Malaysia, taking 21 Western vacationers and Asian workers from a dive resort back to their camp in the Philippine island of Jolo.

Most of the hostages were freed, reportedly in exchange for huge ransoms. The rebels are now holding just two captives, an American and a Filipino.